How the Better Gambling Forum is setting new standards

The Better Gambling Forum is establishing new standards in the industry. Intrepid Partners' Wes Himes discussed the forum's mission following a year of its public health approach to gambling.

The Better Gambling Forum is establishing new standards in the industry. Intrepid Partners' Wes Himes discussed the forum's mission following a year of its public health approach to gambling.

A new bill in Peru proposes increasing the consumption tax rate for the online betting sector fivefold to 5%. This potential tax hike is cited as addressing public health concerns and boosting revenue.

A former EGBA executive has been appointed as the director general of the World Gaming and Betting Alliance (WGBA). The WGBA is scheduled for a formal launch in Geneva later this year, coinciding with its inaugural report.
French Guiana's first casino, operated by Caysino (a COGIT group subsidiary), is set to open in Cayenne on November 5. The new casino will feature 100 slot machines and three traditional gaming tables. Caysino holds a 20-year public service concession for the establishment.

France's regulator, ANJ, identified niche betting activity among high-risk players in 2025. The ANJ's report suggests these findings reflect a lower presence of casual bettors in more specialized sports games.
Stake's provisional permission to operate in Brazil until October 25th was overturned by the Federal Court following an appeal. This decision reverses Stake's previous status as the only licensed operator allowed to remain operational in the country for that period.

Over 3,500 Brazilians have lost their jobs following a betting ban imposed by President Lula. This provisional measure banning licensed sportsbooks is causing significant job losses within Brazil's betting industry.
Betfred reported a turnover of £995.6 million for the 52 weeks ending March 29, 2026, with online operations contributing nearly half of this figure. The company's gross profit was £720 million, and profit after tax stood at £39.6 million.
The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) will showcase Canada's competitive business advantages at ICE Barcelona. The CGA plans to promote opportunities within Canada's $23 billion regulated gaming industry to all ICE visitors at 'Canada House'.
Yggdrasil has expanded its presence in the Italian market through a new partnership with ZonaGioco, facilitated by Microgame. This agreement makes Yggdrasil's entire portfolio, including YGG Masters and YGG Champions titles, available to ZonaGioco players.

Hacksaw Gaming has warned of slower revenue growth in the third quarter of 2026, leading to a significant drop in its share value. The company stated that Q3 2026 growth was below expected levels.

Spinomenal has released Tiger Charms, a 3x3 slot built around respins and full-screen wins. The title adds to the provider’s content portfolio with a randomly triggered Fortune Tiger Feature, full-screen multipliers of up to x25 and a stated win ceiling of x2500.

GAMOMAT has launched Flor de Muerto, a 5x4 slot featuring 20 paylines, persistent Nudging Flowers and Free Games with a progressive multiplier. The game has a maximum win of 50,000x the bet and is being distributed through GAMOMAT’s G-RGS and the Bragg HUB across regulated markets.

SOFTSWISS has released its fifth iGaming Trends report, providing key insights into the industry's evolution. The report highlights the impact of digital maturity, regulation, and artificial intelligence on the iGaming landscape. CMO Valentina Bagniya discusses how AI, taxation shifts, and compliance are reshaping the sector and driving its maturation.
Sky Bet's new Managing Director, Neil Banbury, intends to leverage parent company Flutter Entertainment’s global scale. He aims to maximize the benefits of Flutter's extensive reach for Sky Betting and Gaming. This strategic direction was shared shortly after Banbury assumed his leadership role.

Prominent Nordic gaming companies, Better Collective and Betsson, anticipate a pan-Scandinavian stock exchange launch could significantly boost their businesses. They view this as an opportunity to elevate their market profile and operations. The potential exchange is seen as a positive development for the region's gaming PLCs.

The Dutch trade body VNLOK has taken social media giant Meta to court, drawing praise from its peers in the betting industry. VNLOK's chairman stated that Meta is facilitating a 'digital Wild West' environment. This action highlights ongoing industry and regulatory concerns regarding Meta's practices.
Playson has expanded its footprint in South Africa by partnering with World Sports Betting. This collaboration will see a selection of Playson's acclaimed Hold and Win titles introduced to World Sports Betting's player base. The integration will occur via Light & Wonder, further strengthening Playson's presence in the region.
Denmark's overall gambling revenue decreased by 7.1% to DKK678m in August 2026. This decline was primarily driven by a 42.7% drop in sports betting, even as online casino revenue saw a 12.5% increase.
New York sportsbooks may face new regulations that would restrict personalized sports-betting prompts generated by AI. Proposed rules also include requirements for human intervention and outreach to customers identified as at-risk, pending final approval.
Evoplay is strengthening its Latin American market presence through a new partnership with Peruvian operator Te Apuesto. The agreement will see a selection of Evoplay's titles integrated and go live on Te Apuesto's platform. This collaboration expands Evoplay's reach within the established Peruvian iGaming market.
The Prize Competition Council (PCC) has appointed Tom Banks as its first Executive Director. Banks will initially focus on ensuring compliance with the DCMS Code and representing the council's growing membership within the prize competition sector.

A former FDJ executive has been appointed as the director general of the Prize Competition Council. The trade body has experienced rapid membership growth since its July inception, expanding from eight to 65 members.
SlotsUp, an iGaming informational platform, has launched an AI Assistant to enhance intelligent search capabilities. This new tool provides data-backed answers to user queries about online casinos, games, bonuses, providers, and regulations, leveraging SlotsUp's extensive database.
Evolution AB (publ) acquired 447,327 of its own shares between October 5, 2026, and October 9, 2026. This share repurchase was conducted as part of a program to optimize the company's capital structure and enhance shareholder value.